By John Thomas
April 22 and 23, 1995
For over a week prior to President Clinton coming to the Twin Cities the hotel prepared for his arrival. We were chosen for many important factors, among them, a union hotel, limited entrances and exits and remote location that made it easy to secure. Secret Service agent made sure that all the activities the President participated in would be planned out, so the staff had no surprises.
The top three floors were secured for his use. Other guests staying in the hotel were restricted to the lower floors. A guest taking the elevators to the secure floors would stop on the 10th, where a number of agents were stationed. No one was allowed up without clearance.
As the concierge at the hotel, I was in charge of getting the signatures of all the VIP guest staying with us. These were written in a leather bound guest register. After talking with the Secret Service, I was notified that someone would escort me up to the room that he would be staying in. A few hours before his arrival we walked into the Ordway Suite. Setting the book down on the dining room table the agent said, “Do you have a pen you can leave with the register?” The only pen I had was my personal Monte Blanc pen, which never left my presents. In this case an exception would be made since it was the President of the United States. In addition it would be special to have a pen that he used. Leaving it behind, I would return to retrieve it as soon as he was gone.
Two days later upon his departure, I quickly returned to get my pen and the register. On the dining room table sat the register, my heart sank when I could not find the pen. Asking the secret service agent in charge where my pen was he said he would check into it.
5 hours later while at my desk in the lobby he up to me, presenting me with my lost pen. He said the President had picked it up and taken it with him. I was happy to have this special pen back in my possession.
In closing, the register was signed by Mr. Clinton, but the signature and the address were written in two different pen styles and color of ink, neither of which matched my pen. I do know that he had it but it wasn't used to sign the register. I’ve taken the pen out of use and is now in a frame.
For over a week prior to President Clinton coming to the Twin Cities the hotel prepared for his arrival. We were chosen for many important factors, among them, a union hotel, limited entrances and exits and remote location that made it easy to secure. Secret Service agent made sure that all the activities the President participated in would be planned out, so the staff had no surprises.
The top three floors were secured for his use. Other guests staying in the hotel were restricted to the lower floors. A guest taking the elevators to the secure floors would stop on the 10th, where a number of agents were stationed. No one was allowed up without clearance.
As the concierge at the hotel, I was in charge of getting the signatures of all the VIP guest staying with us. These were written in a leather bound guest register. After talking with the Secret Service, I was notified that someone would escort me up to the room that he would be staying in. A few hours before his arrival we walked into the Ordway Suite. Setting the book down on the dining room table the agent said, “Do you have a pen you can leave with the register?” The only pen I had was my personal Monte Blanc pen, which never left my presents. In this case an exception would be made since it was the President of the United States. In addition it would be special to have a pen that he used. Leaving it behind, I would return to retrieve it as soon as he was gone.
Two days later upon his departure, I quickly returned to get my pen and the register. On the dining room table sat the register, my heart sank when I could not find the pen. Asking the secret service agent in charge where my pen was he said he would check into it.
5 hours later while at my desk in the lobby he up to me, presenting me with my lost pen. He said the President had picked it up and taken it with him. I was happy to have this special pen back in my possession.
In closing, the register was signed by Mr. Clinton, but the signature and the address were written in two different pen styles and color of ink, neither of which matched my pen. I do know that he had it but it wasn't used to sign the register. I’ve taken the pen out of use and is now in a frame.
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